Monday, September 23, 2013

One of
the warmest, most intimate records we've ever heard from Vinicius Cantuaria –
and one of the most beautiful too! The set's got Vinicius on vocals and guitar,
in the company of guitarist Ricardo Silveira, and no other instrumentation at
all – which makes for a wonderfully airy sort of record, and one that really
lets Cantuaria open up! We might dare to say that the album's got a more
classic bossa approach than some of Vinicius' other records – but the music
isn't really bossa, either – and instead has all these fresh, individual
inflections that really come from the simple, yet stunning work from both
guitar players – and Cantuaria's well-measured use of lyrics – often in ways
that have them taking second stage to the guitar instrumentation. Titles include
"Perritos", "A La Dori", "Sessao Das Onze",
"E O Fim", "Trilha Polar", and "Dia Del
Sol". ~ Dusty Groove

BENNIE GREEN - WALKING DOWN

A stone
classic from the great Bennie Green – working here at a sharp 50s level that
easily makes him one of the most hard-edged players in jazz at the time!
Bennie's rooted in bop, but has plenty of deeper soulful elements too – a
groove that others would expand more in the soul jazz generation, but which
Green unleashes here with a really raw sort of energy – a tightness that's
almost more suited to the trumpet than modes you'd usually hear from other
trombonists. The setting's almost a blowing session one, but a bit tighter
overall – and the quintet features Eric Dixon on tenor and Lloyd Mayers on
piano – plus raw rhythms from Sonny Wellesley on bass and Bill English on
drums. Titles include "East Of The Little Big Horn", "Walkin
Down", and "But Not For Me". (SHMCD pressing.) ~ Dusty Groove

ELMO HOPE SEXTET - INFORMAL JAZZ

Quite
possibly the most "all star" session ever cut by pianist Elmo Hope –
and one of his few dates to feature horns as well! The album's one of a few cut
for Prestige by the modern piano giant – and it's done in an open-ended, long
song format that was very much in keeping with the label's "blowing
session" mode of the time – a setting that lets Hope really stretch out
with players that include John Coltrane, Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Paul Chambers,
and Philly Joe Jones. And while the album has less of the angular, more tightly
wound modern lines of some of Hope's better known work, it's still an extremely
strong set overall – more of a showcase for all players involved, but still
featuring 2 Hope original compositions – "Weeja" and "On
It" – as well as versions of "Polka Dots & Moonbeams" and
"Avalon". (SHMCD pressing.) ~
Dusty Groove